Psalms 72

¹A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart

²But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped

³For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners

⁴For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds

⁵They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men

⁶Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety

⁷Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart

⁸They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places

⁹They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth

¹⁰Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them

¹¹And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?

¹²Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches

¹³And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent

¹⁴And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings

¹⁵If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons

¹⁶I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me

¹⁷until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part

¹⁸So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down

¹⁹How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity

²⁰As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city

²¹For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed

²²And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it

²³I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you

²⁴You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up

²⁵For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you

²⁶My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity

²⁷For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you

²⁸But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion